It's easy to take for granted the things in your own back yard. Granite Bay residents might easily forget how close they are to the magnificent Pacific Ocean. And there might be no better spot to experience the view, smell of sea spray and sound of crashing waves than Fort Bragg.

Though the trip can seem a little arduous - long stretches of highway with no real eye-popping scenery to speak of and few radio stations to fill the void - the payoff is well worth the four hours in the car.

Located in Mendocino County along Highway 1, Fort Bragg is a quaint little town with plenty of historic charm and something for everyone in the family.

The most obvious attraction is the Skunk Train. Kids will love the name, and adults will enjoy the view and relaxing atmosphere.

"We are named one of the Top 10 tourist trains in the country," explains Wendy Squires, general manager for the privately owned tourist attraction.

Originally built as a logging railroad, the Skunk line began running in 1885 as a means for moving redwood logs to sawmills throughout the county.

So named because the original gas engines produced a distinctive odor that let residents in the area smell the trains before they could see them, the Skunk Train today offers 3 1/2-hour trips through towering trees and open meadows and along the banks of the Noyo River. Spectacular waterfalls are also visible on certain portions of the track at different times of the year.

Various specialty trips - including a Barbecue Train and a Wine and Redwoods Tour - are also scheduled throughout the coming months.

But the train isn't the only thing making the trip to Fort Bragg worthwhile.

Perhaps one of the most interestingly named beaches along California's coastline calls Fort Bragg home. Glass Beach might not offer a lot of sandy stretches for sunbathers, but there's some neat stories to enjoy.

According to locals, the beach was originally the town dump decades ago.

Squires recalls people backing their cars up to the cliffs that overlook the ocean, and dumping entire loads over the hillside into the water below.

Several years ago, the federal and state governments stepped in, banning anymore dumping and starting efforts to recover the area's beauty.

"They cleaned everything up, but there was a bunch of pieces of glass in there they couldn't get out," Squires notes.

Even though the water and beach are clear of garbage and other gross items, there are some pretty gems to be found.

Those pieces of glass - from clear to green to brown and every color in between - have been polished into pebbles by the sand and water through the years, and are now beautiful collector's items.

"Artists from all over come to find the glass pieces and use them in their works," Squires says.

Once in Fort Bragg, there are plenty of signs along the main street pointing the way to Glass Beach.

But if the beach or train isn't your style, there's still so much more available in Fort Bragg. Rental horses are available for rides along the beach, unique items are available for sale in several quaint shops along the main drag, and there are a few museums in the area to kill some time as well.

For more information on Fort Bragg, visit www.mendocinocoast.com. For more information on the Skunk Train, visit www.skunktrain.com.